Thank you, Mr. Ruimy.
Honestly, I think we all have our own way to get things done. We all do. We have to find our way. The school of being an MP isn't really refined, nor should it be. It should be something that we get creative about.
I agree with you on one thing: we are all equal, whether you're a cabinet minister or sitting in the backbench. I actually don't think “backbencher” is a bad word, either. We are all equal. We're all here to represent the people in our communities, and I respect that. I respect people from all political parties. Everybody's message is very important because we represent everybody in Canada, and that's important.
When I talk to ministers or whoever I need to talk to, sometimes it's parliamentary secretaries and sometimes it's backbenchers. You're absolutely right: we work with people across political lines, but we do it at question period, often. Often we're walking up the lane and we're talking with someone, whether we sit with them on committee or in a caucus. Ms. Sahota and I sit on the entrepreneur caucus together. We usually talk about it at question period, with Mr. Allison from the Conservative bench, as chairs. That work often happens, not just with ministers.
I have to say that sometimes there are crises where you have to go to a minister, or it's a ministerial decision. There are discussions I've had with ministers. I know, Mr. Ruimy, you're really helpful on the government bench, and I appreciate that, but there are conversations I've had with ministers where they'd certainly want me to be talking to them directly. I've had those conversations and I'm certain that they would want me to be talking to them about it. I have to say that. It's very important we clarify that.